Disposiciones generales

Most churches today teach the rituals of baptism and the Eucharist (the Lord's Supper) are symbolic.

Baptism is simply a public declaration that one has chosen to become a Christian, identifying with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord. These rituals help our minds stay focused on Christ. They set us apart, or sanctify us. Some churches teach these rituals are much more than that. Some falsely teach baptism and the Eucharist impart some grace or power into the participant. Some denominations will even baptize infants, even though the infant has not made a profession of Christ.

Both Scripture and the ancient church fathers teach being baptized “for the remission of sins” means that public baptism shows the world you have been forgiven and become a Christian. Years later these phrases were twisted into the idea that the water, itself, has some form of power or grace. The ancient church fathers taught baptism is not necessary for salvation, there is no such thing as holy water, and the kind of water a person was immersed in made no difference. It is equally wrong not to baptize at all, or to baptize only in the name of Jesus instead of the Trinitarian formula.

Here are some quotes from the early church about the subject of baptism:

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Church Fathers

Justin Martyr, AD 165 AD

First Apology 61 – Baptism is “the manner in which we dedicate ourselves to God after we had been made new through Christ.” Baptism is “for the remission of their sins that are past” and is done in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The apostles taught this rite is to show one has chosen to be born again and has repented of his sins, and is illuminated in understanding. So baptism is called “the regeneration” or “illumination.” We are instructed to pray for the remission of sins. Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. They there receive the washing with water in the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe, of our savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit.

Dialogue 29 – Water baptism is of no need to one who has been baptized of the Holy Spirit.

Tertullian, in his later years, fell in with the heretical group called the Montinists. He then seems to begin to believe that the sacrament of baptism is more than just a memorial. He begins to call those who use Paul's point about not baptizing if it caused division, heretics: in light of all the above I believe this came from being a Montinist.

Tertullian, AD 210

On Baptism 1 – The Cainite heresy is to do away with baptism.

On Baptism 5 – The cults of Isis and Mithras each have a baptism ceremony which is supposed to

impart supernatural powers. The Christian sacrament of baptism does no such thing. received can be equally given. But the woman of pertness, who has usurped the power to teach, will of course not have the right to baptize. But if the writings which wrongly go under Paul's name, claim Thecla's example as a license for women's teaching and baptizing, let them know that, in Asia, the presbyter who composed that writing, as if he were augmenting Paul's fame from his own store, after being convicted, and confessing that he had done it from love of Paul, was removed from his office.

On the Veiling of Virgins 9 – It is not permitted to a woman to speak in the church nor teach, nor to baptize, nor be in any sacerdotal office.

Tertullian, AD

On Baptism 4 – It makes no difference whether a man is washed in a sea, pool, stream, fountain, lake, or trough. All waters attain the sacramental power of sanctification. For the Holy Spirit immediately supervenes for the heavens and rests over the waters.

Against Marcion 1.28 – [The heretic] Marcion calls baptism a “sacrament of salvation,” and will not baptize unless the person is in a state of virginity, widowhood, or celibacy.

Jesus Only Baptism

We are to baptize “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Anyone who baptized in another way, like in the name of Jesus only, is in fact denying the Trinity and is therefore, heretical.

Tertullian, AD 198

Against Praxeas 27 – we are commanded to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, not to an impersonal God. Indeed it is not once only – but three times – that we are immersed into the three Persons, at the mention of each individual name.

Cyprian, AD 250

Epistle of Cyprian 72.18 – there is no ground for anyone... to say “all who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ have obtained the grace of baptism.” The Son alone, without the Father, cannot be of advantage to anyone... How, when God the Father is not known – nay, is even blasphemed – can they who are among the heretics and are baptized in the name of Jesus obtain the remission of sins? Christ himself commands pagans to be baptized in the full and united Trinity. Are we to assume that someone who denies the Father is not denied? Are we to believe that he who blasphemes against him whom Christ called His Lord and God is rewarded with Christ?

Baptism of Heretics

The ancient church was clear in saying when a cult baptized a person, it was not a real baptism and therefore each person should be baptized into the true faith. We should, therefore, recognize a Christian baptism performed by any Christian denomination that teaches the Trinity, but no other. For example, we should accept a baptism from a Baptist or Nazarene, but not from a Jehovah’s Witness or Buddhist or a United Pentecostal who baptizes in the name of Jesus only.

Tertullian, AD 198

On Baptism 15 – Heretics... do not have the same God we do. Nor do they have the same Christ.

Therefore, their baptism is not one with ours, either, for it is not the same.

Cyprian, AD 250

Epistle of Cyprian 70.1 – We say that those who come from the heretics are not re-baptized by us, but are baptized. For indeed, they did not receive anything where there is nothing.

Cyprian, AD 250

Epistle of Cyprian 72.25 – Upon reading the letter of [Pope] Stephen of Rome, you will more and more observer his error... He has judged the baptism of all heretics to be just and lawful.

Everywhere [in the gospels and epistles of the New Testament] heretics are called adversaries and antichrists... no one should defame the apostles as if they had approved of the baptism of heretics.

Firmilian, AD 256

Epistle of Cyprian 74.17-18 – [Stephen, bishop of Rome] says “Whoever is baptized in the name of Christ, he immediately obtains the grace of Christ.” ...We resist the Romans’ custom upon custom... We have deemed no baptism holy except that of the holy church.

Footwashing

Irenaeus compares water baptism to foot washing as a ritual that makes one clean. No denomination, to my knowledge, teaches foot washing imparts a grace or supernatural power.

Irenaeus, AD 178

Against Heresies 4.22 – We have been cleansed and washed in baptism from things pertaining to death, to come to the life of God. Jesus, who washed the feet of the disciples, sanctified the entire body and rendered it clean.

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Catholicism